LEADER IN SPORT – VU has an outstanding reputation in sport, exercise and active living. It has the largest number of sport related courses in Australia and is the only university to have a dedicated College of Sport and Exercise Science. Courses cover exercise science and human movement, physical education, sport management, sport law, sports engineering, and osteopathy. The newly established VU Basketball Academy, under the Directorship of Andrew Gaze, enhances sport teaching, research and knowledge exchange. VU Partnerships provide excellent opportunities for students to learn from professionals. •

P-12 BACHELOR OF EDUCATION – VU is one of a few universities in Australia offering a Bachelor of Education (P-12) which allows graduates to teach at any school level, primary or secondary. At most other universities students must decide whether they want to teach at the primary or secondary level when applying for courses in Year 12. VU education students can specialise in physical education, the arts, home economics, humanities, social sciences, mathematics, outdoor education, science, and more.

IS ORAL HEALTH A PATHWAY TO DENTISTRY AT MELBOURNE? The Bachelor of Oral Health does NOT qualify students as dentists and is NOT a pathway to the Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Melbourne. It is a 3-year degree with four main components: clinical and preventative dentistry, dental and health sciences, social sciences and health promotion, and vocational clinical practice. Oral health allows graduates to practice as an oral health therapist, a dental hygienist or a dental therapist. Info: www.dent.unimelb.edu.au For information about pathways to the Doctor of Dental Surgery see: www.coursesearch.unimelb.edu.au/pathways/2-dentistry.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH PROMOTION DEGREE? Public health and health promotion combine a range of activities directed at improving the health of people in the population. Some well-known activities include those run by organisations such as SunSmart, TAC, and QUIT. Public health seeks to understand and act on the social and environmental factors that cause poor health, with the factors that create and sustain good health. Those suited to this occupation have good communication and negotiation skills, can relate to people from different backgrounds and be able to work as part of a team. Graduates work for government, health agencies, community services, universities, aid organisations, and not-for-profit organisations. Suitable courses to consider are Deakin University B. Public Health and Health Promotion, La Trobe B. Health Promotion, Monash B. Health Promotion, Swinburne B. Health Science (Public and Environmental Health), and ACU B. Applied Public Health. ATARs required for these degrees range from about 55 to about 75. Pre-requisites vary from university to university.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT JOINING THE DEFENCE FORCES – Defence Force Recruiting holds regular information sessions on a number of topics. Coming up soon are: • One Year Roles and the ADF GAP Year: 5.30pm for 6-7pm session, Wed 4 June • Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA in Canberra) – 6-7.30pm, Wed 11 June • Army Officer (Royal Military College in Duntroon) – 5.30pm for 6-7pm session, Wed 18 June. All session are at Level 14, 501 Swanston St, Melbourne; Bookings: CPTVIC@dfr.com.au. Students in Years 10-12 and their families are welcome to attend.

LOOKING FOR A CARING CAREER? Thinking of a career in disability, aged care or home and community care? Then, you may find assistance by going to: www.carecareers.com.au. The site provides assistance with jobs, information and career advice. There is also an interesting pictorial career quiz you might like to try.

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY (ACU) NEWS –

‘UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE’ is a program giving you the opportunity to sample the degree of your choice. Get a taste of life at ACU by meeting academic staff and current students, and trying out the course you’re interested in studying. When/Where: Ballarat campus – Tues 1 July; Melbourne campus – Tues 8 July; Info/registration: www.acu.edu.au/uni-exp. •

EARLY ACHIEVERS’ PROGRAM – ACU recognises that you have more to offer than your academic results. If you regularly contribute to your community – through school, workplace, community organisation, or cultural or religious group – you could be eligible for ACU’s Early Achievers’ Program. If successful, you will receive an offer of a place well before the usual tertiary admissions announcements. Applications open: 17 Aug, close 20 Oct; Info: www.acu.edu.au/achieve-early.

As mentioned previously, La Trobe has a new initiative for school leavers for entry to the university in 2015. The new Aspire Early Admissions Program recognises the positive impact that a student has had on their local community. Community engagement and objective school achievement forms a significant part of the assessment criteria of the Aspire program, not ATAR scores. Students will be able to apply across all La Trobe courses at all campuses, with offers of places being made to successful applicants as early as September. Applications open: 1 July, close: 31 August. Register now for program updates at: Aspire webpage.

SO YOU WANT TO GET INTO A TRADE? Thinking of being a plumber, carpenter, electrician, motor mechanic, refrigeration mechanic, tiler, brick layer, lift mechanic, or one of many other trades people? Most students think first of being a carpenter, an electrician or a plumber. However, there are many others to choose from. Apprenticeships generally take four years, but, if an apprentice is competent, they may be able to complete sooner. Plumbing and electrical apprenticeships take four years. Employers often look for three things in an applicant: Year 12 completion (VCE or VCAL), being 18 with a driving licence and vehicle, and completion of a pre-apprenticeship course. Pre-apprenticeships can be completed in about four of five months at TAFE (after finishing school) or sometimes while at school. Finding an employer can be a challenge. Suggestions are to try family contacts, sporting club contacts, letting people know that an apprenticeship is being sought. Alternatively, Group Training Organisations can often assist. These organisations employ apprentices and lease them to suitable employers. For details see: www.grouptraining.com.au. Another useful website is: www.aapathways.com.au.

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT – ICHM prepares students for careers at the top end of the international hotel industry. Located in Adelaide, it is the only Swiss Hotel Association School outside Europe, and offers internationally recognised qualifications (B. International Hotel Management and B. Business (Hospitality Management). If you would like to find out more about the College and it’s degrees, you can attend an ICHM Career Week at the College. When: 7-11 July or 29 Sept to 3 Oct; Where: ICHM, Days Rd, Regency Park, SA; Cost: $595 (deducted from first year fees if you enrol); Info: www.ichm.edu.au.